[15/March/2010]

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Saba) -- The US State Department said it aims to "foster global conversations on foreign affairs" with new interactive website, launched Monday, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

"Opinion Space," a site hosted on the State Departments main website, http: //state.gove/opinionspace, "will harness the power of connection technologies to provide a unique forum for international dialogue," according to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The site, accessible to users world-wide, provides a forum for people to share their perspectives and ideas on US foreign policy in visual "opinion map" that illustrates which ideas prompt the most discussions and which ideas are voted most insightful by the other users.

"This map is not based on geography or predetermined categories, but on similarity of opinion," said University of California Professor Ken Goldberg. "Opinion Space is designed to 'depolarize' discussions by including all participants on a level playing field." Clinton added, "this is an example of what we call 21st century statecraft and an opportunity to extend our engagement beyond the halls of government directly to the people of the world."

Saba